Grading is more an opinion than the science it aspires to be, so developing your own standards is a must for any collector pursuing gem state Indian Heads.

The fastest way to earn your grading degree is by purchasing overgraded, unappealing coins and losing a sizeable amount of money when it comes time to sell them. The preferred method is to view large samples of other people's coins -- at local coin dealers, shows or even over the internet -- and create your own frame of reference for the "look" of high and low end before jumping into the market.

The grading descriptions on the following pages start at the MS64 level, based mainly on a compilation of Richard Snow's and the ANA's guidelines. Images are included of solid examples at each grade and can be compared side-by-side here.